John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Was Texas oil company responsible for WA deaths? Judge to decide years later
A nearly six-year-long legal battle drew to a close Thursday when attorneys made their final arguments on whether Texas oil company Tesoro is...
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Tesoro, U.S. sign $425 million deal to make refineries pollute less
Texas oil company Tesoro and the purchaser of one of its refineries have agreed to spend $403 million to reduce air pollution at oil refineries in six...
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Starving seabirds washing up dead on Washington beaches
Seabirds have been washing up dead on beaches in Washington and British Columbia this summer, and scientists can't say why.
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$14M fuels initiatives on the November ballot. Who's behind the money?
The vast majority of money going into initiative campaigns this year in Washington state has come in lumps of $10,000 or more, from a small number of...
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Fall ballot in Washington to be crowded with initiatives
Backers of I-1515, the initiative to restrict which bathrooms transgender people can use, have told Washington state officials they will not turn in...
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Sound Transit: Light rail and heavy marketing
The launch party for the two light rail stations was, in hindsight, “too much.” The consultants, tote bags, security and ads – it added up to $858,000...
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(Slightly) faster light rail approved by Sound Transit
Seattle-based Sound Transit has made its plan to expand regional transit slightly faster and slightly more expensive.
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Sound Transit shaves 2-5 years off decades-long wait for light rail
Everett could get light rail in 20 years instead of 25 under a new plan discussed by the Sound Transit board Thursday afternoon. Light rail would reach...
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Wildfires near Seattle are earlier, faster and more intense than usual
State officials are investigating the causes of two forest fires northeast of Seattle. With no lightning reported in the Oso or Gold Bar areas where the...
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Cruz's big campaign cash haul doesn't pay off in the end
Candidates who raise the most money tend to win elections. But not always. Republican Senator Ted Cruz was scheduled to speak at a rally in Spokane and...